Amur (Siberian) tiger - Threats

Legally prohibited hunting is little comfort for this tiger

Poaching of Amur tigers and their prey remains a problem. In addition, their forests are under threat from logging, conversion to agriculture, urban expansion, road construction, mining, fires, and inadequate law enforcement.

Habitat loss and fragmentation
A major threat to the Amur tiger is habitat loss and a decrease in its prey due to human population pressure. In the long-term these are the most important threats to the survival of the tiger. Tigers live in forests, some of which are protected areas.

However if these areas have little prey to support the tiger (either due to hunting or to poor quality habitat), the tiger is forced to hunt domestic animals in the settlements surrounding the protected areas. They are then killed in revenge by local people.
Find out more about habitat loss and degradation

Illegal trade
The most immediate of threats is the demand for tiger parts to use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is an ancient practice, as tiger bones have been used in TCM for at least 1,000 years. During the 1960s, tigers were killed in China as an agricultural pest and this kept the TCM market supplied with tiger parts until the 1980s.

Since then, the growing number of people in Asia, and their growing affluence, has meant an increased demand for tiger parts. Also, during the 1980s the Russian Communist system collapsed and the previously impervious Sino-Russian border began to open up, allowing people access to new tiger supplies.
Find out more about wildlife trade